Raising Annuals From Seeds
Seedlings of most annuals are first raised in a nursery and then planted out when they are large enough to handle.

You may sow your seeds in raised nursery beds or in containers such as pots, trays or even empty tin cans provided they have holes at the base for drainage and will hold soil atleast 8 cms deep.

Success in raising seedlings depends on the type of compost you use. A suitable sowing medium which is light and porous can be prepared by mixing equal quantity of soil, sand leaf mould sifted through a 6 mm sieve.While mixing make sure that it is niether too wet nor too dry.

Prepare the nursery beds by removing the top 5 cms of soil and replacing it with the prepared sowing mixture then level the surface with a woden baton.

Scatter the seeds evenly, but not too thickly, over the surface, and cover with a layer of mixture equal to twice the thickness of the seeds.

Next give the surface a light sprinkling of water without disturbing the soil.

Never allow the surface to become parched during the germination and the development period of the seedlings as sprouts and young seedlings dry out very quickly.

When the seedlings have developed three to four pairs of 'true' leaves, trasplant them to
their permanent site at the recommended spacing.

After Care
After planting, water the plants thoroughly. There is a little to do apart from watering in the dry spells and removing any weeds that grow between the plants.

Some tall plants may require staking to prevent them from toppling over.

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